About Zimfest 2005 Workshops

Zimfest offers an outstanding selection of top-quality workshops on Zimbabwean music and culture. This year’s schedule includes about 140 workshops during 9 sessions, taught by 46 expert musicians from Zimbabwe, North America, and Europe.

Please do not sign up for any workshop that is beyond your experience level!

Participant Playing Levels

In order for teachers to accomplish the goals of their classes, it is important that participants sign up for classes that are appropriate to their experience and playing level. Signing up for a class that is beyond your level creates major problems for the teacher and the other students. If the teacher deems that the class is above your level you may be asked to observe. Please rate your abilities honestly according to the following guidelines when choosing your classes:

Introductory: Appropriate for those who have never touched the instrument through folks who have played less than one year.

Advanced Beginning: These people have played the instrument at least one year. For marimba they can play a couple parts on at least five songs and for mbira they can play two songs.

Intermediate: For marimba, those who’ve played at least three years, can play a few parts on at least 10 pieces, have good technique, understand the rhythm, form and structure of the pieces, and can catch cues and understand how to move through sections. For mbira, those who know at least 5 songs and have played in both the kushaura and kutsinhira positions.

Advanced: Same as intermediate PLUS: learns quickly, is comfortable playing fast, has a strong sense of rhythm and at least 3 years playing at performance level. For mbira, able to learn a kushaura and kutsinhira part in one workshop.

Recording

Most, but not all, teachers allow audiotaping of workshops for personal use. Please see the “Materials” section of the workshop descriptions for information on each workshop.

Ways to View the Workshop Descriptions

  • Click the links at the top-right of the page to view workshop descriptions by category, by session, or by teacher.
  • See the Workshop Schedule for a complete list of workshops. On the Workshop Schedule page, click a link to view the description of a single workshop.
  • Log on to Online Registration. You can register and pay via PayPal. You can also view the workshop schedule and click links to see single workshop descriptions.
  • Browse the Registration Guide, available as a PDF file suitable for printing, or contact our office if you want to receive a printed copy in the mail. Be aware that changes occur after publication in mid-May.

How to Register

You can register in advance either online or by mail. Or you can wait until you arrive at the festival and register on-site, but many workshops will already be full. For instructions, please see the Registration Information.

Workshops and schedules are subject to change

Workshop Changes

Workshop changes do occur. Changes are incorporated into the web pages (but not the PDF) as they occur so that they stay up-to-date. It’s wise to check the Changes & Corrections web page occasionally right up until the festival, if you’re taking workshops.

What to Bring

Bring pens, paper, earplugs, coffee mug, water bottle — whatever you need to make yourself comfortable during workshops and long days on the go.

Please bring any instruments you may need for your workshops, and consider sharing your instruments and/or bringing extras. Please contact us at 2005@zimfest.org if you have extra instruments available.

PLEASE NOTE: The afternoon concerts will be on an outdoor stage with Festival Seating only on a large grassy lawn. Be sure to bring along a blanket, low camping chair, sunglasses, a hat, sunscreen. We are hoping for a sunny weekend and want you to be prepared!